Fountain-pen.



PATENTED PEB. 7, 1905.

R. A. HAMILTON.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

APPLIOA TIoN FILED Mu zo, 1904.

av 7 ad .a .a n 3 IINTTED STATES Patented February 7, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT A. HAMILTON, OF SEYMOUR, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN I. LEIN, OF NEIY YORK, N. Y.

FOUNTAIN-PEN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 781,649, dated February '7, 1905.

Application filed May 20, 19044 Serial No. 208.834.

To ./,U whom it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT A. HAuIL'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seymour, in the county of New Haven and State ot' Connecticut, have invented certain new and uset'ul Improvements in Fountain-Pens, ot'

which the Yfollowing is a full, clear, and exact si'iecilication.

This invention relates to fountain-pens, and more especially to self-tlling pens having a compressible reservoir.

The object ot the invention is to provide improved means tor compressing the reservoir which shall be compact and etl'ective to empty the reservoir without requiring undue manipulation or distortion ot' the reservoir.

It is well known that in this kind of tountain-pen the reservoir is subject to rapid deterioration on account ot the distortion to which it is subjected in retilling, and by this invention the reservoir can be effectively compressed with but a minimum of wear and distortion. Instead of twisting or rotating the reservoir to compress it I propose to accomplish this by means otl a pressure-bar disposed longitudinally of the reservoir and adapted to bear equally throughout its leng'th on the reservoir when actuated. The pressure-bar is preferably carried by a spring mounted on the pen-body. which automatically retracts the pi'i-\ssui'e-bar to its normal position, leaving the reservoir free to expand by its own resiliency and draw in the inl\Y through the penpoint. The reservoir is protected from accidental compression and injury by being carried within a tube which is cut away to permit the pressure-bar to be actuated to compress the reservoir. 'lhe usual cylindrical casing is provided to protect the parts, which can be partially withdrawn to permit compression otA the reservoir, and the pen does not ditl'er in external appearance from the ordinary fountain-pen and has equal capacity.

Figure I is a view, partly in section, of my improved fountain-pen. Fig. 2 is a detail view showing the manner ot mounting the pressure-bar. Fig'. 3 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, and Fig'. is a transverse section on the line I i ot Fig.

I represents the body or lower end portion` in which is mounted the pcn-pointQ and havingtheink-passage 3. The body portion has a reduced inner end el, on which a compressible reservoir or bulb 5 is mounted, being secured thereto by cement or other suitable fastening means. The bulb may be made ot' ru bber and is ot' suliticient length and diameter to give the desired capacity. The bulb is closed at one end and reduced at the open end, so as to lit closely over the end I ol the body portion. For convenience in manufacture the intermediate tube (5 is made separate trom the body portion I and is rigidly fastened thereto.

Attached to the inside ol the intermediate tube 6 is a protecting-tube T, which has` the twofold function olf protecting the bulb trom accidental compression and injury and also ot' carrying the spring on which the pressure-bar is mounted.

Referring to Fig. 2, 8 is a spring-tongue cut out of the tube T and extendingl from the upper end about to the middle oli the bulb or reservoir Attached to the lend ol the spring S within the tube is the pressure-bar 9, which extends the. length of the reservoir and is convex in cross-section` as shown in-Fig. -l-. so that when depressed the reservoir will be entirely emptied. This also obviates danger ol cutting the reservoir by sharp corners. 'lhe pressure-bar is attached to the spring all about its middle portion, so that when depressed it will bear equally throughout the length ol the reservoir. The dotted lilies in Fig'. il show the position ot' the. parts when the pressurebar is depressed. The tube 7 is cut away on one side at I3, so as to permit the linger otl the operator to entirely depress the pressurebar. The end tube 10 tits over the tube 7, and the latter has one or more splits in its upper end, as at 1I, so as to torni a spring-tongue to frictionally engage the inside ot the tube l0. .Itl desired, some positive locking means may be used for securing the tube 10 to the body portion; but ordinarily the means just dcscribcd will be suiicient.

12 is the usual end cap, which lits on either end.

In order to fill the pen, the outer tube 10 is slid back sufhciently to expose the spring 8 and the protecting-tube 7. By pressing on the spring 8 the reservoir will be compressed, driving out through the passage any air or ink contained therein. If now the pen be inserted in a body oic ink and the pressure on the reservoir relieved, ink will be drawn into the reservoir by its expansion. It will be observed that the spring 8 withdraws the pressure-bar, permitting' the reservoir to expand freely instead oi' using its resiliency to return the compressing mechanism to normal position, as has been done heretofore in pens of this type. This allows complete expansion, relieves the reservoir of a great deal of wear, and prolonge its life, which is also aided by the manner of compression, since there is the least possible distortion and strain on the reservoir by compressing it longitudinally by an independently-retracted pressure-bar. The spring and pressure-bar occupy a minimum of space, and there is nothing liable to get out of order. It will also be seen that the tube 7 protects the reservoir from accidental compression or injury and that by removing the intermediate tube 6 the reservoir will be accessible for repair or renewal.

It will be obvious that the pressure-bar herein described may be constructed in many ways, and I do not restrict myself to the specilic construction, as modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, I declare what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination with a body portion carrying a pen-point, of a compressible reservoir attached thereto, a pressure-bar eXtending longitudinally of the reservoir, and a spring-tongue to which the pressure-bar is rigidly attached for withdrawing the pressurebar after compressing the reservoir whereby the pressure-bar is withdrawn by the springtongue, substantially as described.

2. The combination with abody portion carrying a pen-point, of a compressible reser- Voir attached thereto, a tube surrounding said reservoir, a pressure-bar within the tube eX- tending longitudinally thereof, and a spring carrying said pressure-bar and adapted to withdraw it, substantially as. described.

3. The combination with a body portion carrying a pen-point, of a compressible reservoir attached thereto, a partially-cut-away tube surrounding said reservoir, a spring proliecting into said cut-away portion, and a pressure-bar mounted on said spring and extending longitudinally of the reservoir, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a body portion carrying a pen-point, of a compressible reservoir attached thereto, a tube having a springtongue at one end, surrounding said reservoir, a pressure-bar within said tube adapted to compress the reservoir. and an outer tube adapted to slide over said spring-tongue and be retained thereby, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a body portion having a pen-point, of a compressible reservoir attached thereto, a pressure-bar extending longitudinally of the reservoir, and a spring attached to the middle portion of the pressure-bar, substantially as described.

6. The combination with a body portion carrying a pen-point, of a compressible reservoir attached thereto, means whereby the reservoir may be compressed, a tube having a spring-tongue at one end surrounding said reservoir, and an outer tube adapted to slide over said spring-tongue and be retained thereby, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature i presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT A. HAMILTON NIitnesses:

S. HART CULVER, RUTH M. SoHoFIELD.. 

